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Tuesday, November 18, 2014

Security Council condemns murder of Kassig, ISIL crimes

The
members of the Security Council strongly condemned the heinous and
cowardly murders of U.S. humanitarian aid worker Abdul-Rahman Kassig,
also known as Peter Kassig, and at least 15 Syrian captives by the
Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL). The members of
the Security Council expressed their deep sympathy and condolences to
the families of the victims and to the peoples of the United States
and Syria. These crimes once again demonstrate the brutality of
ISIL, which is responsible for thousands of abuses against the Syrian
and Iraqi people.

Regarding Mr. Kassig, the members of
the Security Council noted that his murder is a tragic reminder of
the increasing dangers humanitarian personnel face every day in
Syria. The members of the Security Council recalled United
Nations Security Council resolution 2175 (2014) and their demand that
all parties involved in an armed conflict comply fully with the
obligations applicable to them under international humanitarian law,
including to respect and protect all humanitarian personnel. The
members of the Security Council also recalled their condemnation of
all forms of violence and intimidation to which those participating
in humanitarian operations are increasingly exposed.

The
members of the Security Council stressed again that ISIL must be
defeated and that the intolerance, violence, and hatred it espouses
must be stamped out. The members of the Security Council
further emphasized that such continued acts of barbarism perpetrated
by ISIL do not intimidate them, but rather stiffen their resolve that
there has to be a common effort among Governments and institutions,
including those in the region most affected, to counter ISIL,
Al-Nusra Front and all other individuals, groups, undertakings and
entities associated with Al-Qaida, as the Council resolved in United
Nations Security Council resolution 2170 (2014).

The members
of the Security Council demanded the immediate, safe and
unconditional release of all those who are kept hostage by ISIL,
Al-Nusra Front, and all other individuals, groups, undertakings, and
entities associated with Al-Qaida.

The members of the Security
Council underlined the need to bring perpetrators of these
reprehensible acts of terrorism to justice. The members of the
Security Council stressed that those responsible for the killing of
Abdul-Rahman Kassig and the Syrian captives shall be held
accountable, and urged all States, in accordance with their
obligations under international law and relevant Security Council
resolutions, to cooperate actively in this regard.

The members
of the Security Council reaffirmed the need to combat by all means,
in accordance with the Charter of the United Nations, threats to
international peace and security caused by terrorist acts, and that
any acts of terrorism are criminal and unjustifiable, regardless of
their motivation, wherever, whenever and by whomsoever committed.